Car-coupling



D. STARK.

GAR COUPLING.

(No Model.)

No. 467,614. Patented Jan. 26, 1892.

MTnass E5:

., WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID STARK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,614, dated January 26, 1892.

Application filed April 14, 1891. Serial No. 388,846. (No model.)

struction and operation.

The nature of my said improvements and the manner in which I proceed to apply and carry out the same will be understood from the following description,in which the accompanying drawings are referred to by lot ters.

Figurel represents in side elevation the platforms-and portions of the ends of two cars and the coupling on them,parts of one drawhead being cut away to expose the couplingbolt. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the parts of the coupling and the timbers of the platform. Fig. 3 is an end view in elevation of the coupling and a portion of the car-platform.

Fig. 4 is a top View in detail of a draw-head and its draw-bar. Fig. 5 shows two different forms of coupling-link.

The draw-head of this coupling is formed of two jaws or parts A A, connected together at the inner end by a hinge-joint and united by that joint also to the end of the spring drawbar B. The end of the draw-bar has an eye I), that fits betweenthe two outer knuckles a a of one jaw, together with the knuckle a of the other jaw, and the bolt C, passing through the parts, unites them together. On this joint the two jaws open laterally to take in the head of the coupling-bolt, and on it as a center, also, the closed draw-head is movable laterally under the angular movements of the car-body on its trucks, as in turning curves on the road. The inner end of the draw-bar passes through two plates B B, and these are carried by brackets B on the longitudinal timbers X X. Elliptic springs G G are set between the timbers 0c and the sides of the jaws to hold them together.

To open the draw-head, a wedge-shaped bar side of the slot has greater width with inclined sides that act to spread the jaws apart when pressed down between them. The point of the wedge resting in the slot serves to keep the acting part above in working position, while the arm and hand-lever furnishes a simple means of working the wedge to spread the jaws.

The coupling-bolt K is of novel construction in having conical heads with recessed back faces on a straight cylindrical shank, the form of which will be understood more clearly from the View of the bar in Figs. 1 and 5, where the head is shown in cross-section. .A boss 79, of cylindrical or spherical shape larger than the opening in the end of the draw-head when the jaws are closed, is formed on the shank of the bolt midway between the two heads for the purpose of taking the pressure of one draw-head against the other coupled to it and of preventing the head of' the bolt from being forced against the body of the cavity in the draw-head. The inner or meeting faces of the jaws are recessed to correspond with the shape of the head and shank of the bolt, each half of the draw-head having one-half of the recess or cavity. In any longitudinal section through the axis of the link, whether taken vertically orin a horizontal plane or at any degree of inclination between them, the head of the bolt is arrow-shaped, with the rim or outer edge of the cone setting backward beyond the center or at the point where the shank joins the head. This shapeis followed, also, in the recess or cavity for the head. The thrust or pressure of one draw-head against the other is taken from the head of the link by the boss or enlargement on the shank, as suitable clearance is provided at the bottom of the cavity to keep the conical head of the bolt out of contact when the two coupled draw-heads are jammed against the boss, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. All pulling forces or those exerted in the opposite direction bring the back or base of the conical head to a close seat against the front of the cavity, and the shape given to these parts has the effect to draw the two jaws of the draw-head together or preventing them from separating. The elliptical springs, however, act to prevent the jaws from separating accidentally under all ordinary angular strains or forces. One or the other of the two coupled draw-heads is movable laterally on the center pin, where it is attached to the draw-bar. In turning curves of short radius the coupled draw-heads are practically one rigid bar, .as the springs allow the draw-head to swing on the center vC, when the car-bodies take angular positions on their trucks, but at the same time hold the jaws together.

For convenience in coupling acar with an ordinary'pin and link to a car with this im, proved draw-head, I provide a coupling-bolt K, with a cross-bar K at the middle, having onone end an eye or slot for a couplingpin. This form of coupling is adapted foruse with two draw-heads of my construction or with one of suchdraw-heads and an ordinary draw-head using apin by using either the bar This coupling is also.

K or the crossbar k converted intoa single coupling-bolta-t pleasure by cutting off the ends 70 k and leaving a portion .of the shank 70 to formthe boss at the middle.

Theoperation of this couplingwillbe readily understood from the foregoing description. The coupling-bolt is releasedifrom'oue drawhead by throwing over the .h and-lever, which forces the wedge between the jaws, and the coupler is left in the opposite draw-headas The hand-lever the two cars move apart. should beset back after uncoupling, in order to letthe jaws close, and in that position they are ready to .take in the coupling-bar of another car at any time.

Either draw-head may be opened to leave;

the coupling-bar in one or the other pair of jaws, and in that position the conical .head stands out from .the draw'head ready toenter that of another car.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car-coupling, a draw-head composed of two hinged jaws united at the inner ends by a hinge-joint having in the outer end a recess or cavity suitably formed to take a coupling-bolt with an enlarged head and separable longitudinally on a median line through said cavity, in combination with springs applied against the said jaws to hold them together and a wedge-piece adapted to enter between said jaws and spread them apart as a means of releasing the coupling-bolt therefrom, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, a two-part draw-head having a recess or cavity to take a couplingbolt with an enlarged head and separable-on- .a median line through said recess, in combinationwit-h a draw-bar to which said parts are united by a hinge-joint,.as described, and on which joint as :al'center the drawrhead has horizontal movement to either side when closed on the coupling-bolt and the two parts of the cross-head are separable at the .outer end, substantially asdescribed.

3. A coupling-bolt havingtwo shankscrossin g-eaeh other at rightangles, en largedheads on the opposite endof one shankja head of corresponding shape on oneendof the crossshank, and an eye. or link .on the oppositeend of the same shank, substantially as described.

4. Acar-coupl-ing comprising a draw-head formed of jaws inclosing a recess or cavity adapted to take a coupling-bolt with an enlarged head separable longitudinally through said .cavity and united to a draw-bar by a hinge joint, which is also the centeref movementof the jaws, elliptic springs by which saidjaws are held together around the-coupling-bolt, and the opening-wedge, arm, rock- .shaft, and locking-lever,.combined foroperation as set forth.

In testimonythat I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my handand seal.

DAVID STARK. [-L.'s.]

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. .OSBORN, CHAS. E. KELLY. 

